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West Lake Neighborhood: Demographic and Racial Analysis
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
West Lake, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, exhibits characteristics of Low Diversity with a predominantly Black population of 88% in 2022. The community has a median income of $17,454 in 2022, which is below the national average. West Lake is one of Atlanta's first planned Black suburbs, developed in the early 20th century.
Over the past decade, West Lake has maintained its status as a Black Majority neighborhood. From 2013 to 2019, there was a decrease in the Black population percentage from 90% to 79%, and an increase in the White population from 4% to 14%. Post-2019, this trend reversed, with the Black population percentage increasing to 88% by 2022.
The economic trajectory of West Lake shows fluctuation. From 2013 to 2019, there was an increase in median income from $18,622 to $27,569. From 2020 to 2022, there was a decline in median income from $23,432 to $17,454. The population showed a declining trend from 2010 to 2019, followed by an increase in 2020 and then stabilization around 1,300 residents.
The demographic trends in West Lake differ from the broader trends in Atlanta, which has been experiencing increasing diversity and gentrification in many neighborhoods. The persistent Black Majority in West Lake suggests that this neighborhood has maintained its historical character as a predominantly Black community.
The economic challenges faced by West Lake, with median incomes below the national and Atlanta averages, reflect issues of economic inequality often seen in historically marginalized communities. The recent decline in median income may indicate that West Lake has been affected by recent economic downturns.
West Lake presents a picture of a historically Black neighborhood that has largely maintained its demographic character despite periods of change. The economic volatility, particularly the recent downturn, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by this community and the need for economic development initiatives to improve residents' quality of life.
